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Safeguarding

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Rutlish School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff, governors, visitors and volunteers to share this commitment.

We have a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy which can be viewed on our policies page, via the link below.

We aim to always follow safer recruitment practice in checking the suitability of all staff and governors. We work hard to raise the awareness of safeguarding and child protection issues amongst staff, as well as equipping our students with the life skills needed to keep them safe.

Sometimes we need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a student’s welfare. We will ensure that our concerns are discussed with parents/carers first unless we have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the student’s welfare.

We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism.

We ask visitors and volunteers to also abide by the school’s equality commitment. There must be no statements which might cause offence to others, or otherwise undermine tolerance of other faiths or beliefs: and there must be no extremism material.

All visitors and volunteers will be asked to wear an identification badge which must remain visible at all times and will be accompanied on site if they do not hold a valid DBS certificate with us.

Designated Safeguarding Leads
Acting Designated Safeguarding Lead Ms Doherty, Assistant Headteacher 
Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mr Giles, Deputy Headteacher

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Mrs Wildman, Inclusion Manager
Safeguarding Governor Mr Mills

 

 

Safeguarding Concern

For out of hours or school holidays please see the links below

If you are concerned about a student’s well-being or if you are aware of a family in a very fragile position, please e-mail safeguarding@rutlish.merton.sch.uk or follow this link:

SAFEGUARDING email

Please include the following fundamental details:

  • Your name and contact details
  • The individual or families name, age and address (if known)
  • Exact details of the concern, providing as much information as is possible (ideally in bullet point form)

We will endeavour to respond to your e-mail within 48 working hours, school working hours and term times.

You can also contact the school office on 020 8542 1212 and ask to speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.


Children and young People's Victim and Witness Support Service

This service, operated by Victim Support, is the main supportVictim Support logo service in London for children and young victims and witnesses of crime. Support is provided on a one to one basis by trained caseworkers in a confidential space that is suitable for children and young people.

The Children and Young People's Victim and Witness Service supports children and young people aged 4 - 17 affected by crime, whether it has been reported to the police or not.

Telephone 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website by following this link: SUPPORTING YOUNG VICTIMS OF CRIME


Online Safety

poster from National On-line safety re: parental controls for android phones

 

 

poster from National On-line safety re: parental controls for iphone

 

National Online Safety
Provide guides specific to games and social media sites that young people use. You can access and download these guides for free and be equipped with the knowledge you need to understand online dangers and how to manage risk.

 

UK Safer Internet Centre
Young people are technology literate and often use programmes that parents and carers are unfamiliar with. UK Safer Internet Centre offers support to parents/carers to understand internet connected devices so that they can support young people with responsible and safe internet usage.

Internet Matters 
A not-for-profit organisation set up to empower parents and carers to keep children safe in the digital world. Their support for parents includes a range of downloadable guides covering subjects such as transition to secondary school, Vlogging & livestreaming, online gaming and cyberbullying. 

NSPCC
Includes a range of resources to help parents keep children safe when they’re using the internet, social networks, apps, games and more. 

 

Parent Info
From CEOP and Parent Zone, Parent Info is a website for parents covering all the issues amplified by the internet. It is a free service which helps schools engage parents with expert safety advice, endorsed by the National Crime Agency’s CEOP command. This website provides expert information across a range of online harms. 

Parent Zone 
Offers a range of resources for families, to help them meet the challenges of the digital age, including parent guides on the latest digital trends and platforms. 


 

ThinkuKnow
Provides advice from the National Crime Agency on staying safe online. 

Childnet 
Offers a toolkit to support parents/carers of children of any age to start discussions about their online life

National Domestic Abuse Helpline
A confidential, 24 hour helpline run by Refuge telephone: 0808 2000 247, or visit their website:
Website

Child Exploitation and Online Protection
Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online?
CEOP

Young Merton

Young Merton has a list of resources for parents, carers and young people in the borough including a list of activities section.

Young Merton / Merton directories

 

 

Parent Safe

It's never easy to know how to keep our children safe when they aren't with us, and sometimes even when they are, if we don't know what's happening in their lives or on their devices! Who are they talking to, what are they doing, are they okay? Don't despair though...scroll through this page for help. 

PARENTSAFE